As a foreigner in a developing country like India, rickshaw drivers and street vendors see you as dollar signs. You'd hand in the amount of money asked from you even though you know you're paying way beyond what is worth. But uncertainty holds you back, and at the insistence and goods already dumped and tied in a plastic bag, you feel compulsed to finish this whole process of buying. And the frowning and cursing and display of anger that comes with arguing price isn't very pleasant . Reluctantly you'd hand in the money, and then you hate yourself for not at least bargaining. Sometimes with the cordial manner and smiling face, you're never too sure. Until you see a lower price for the same good in an upper-class supermarket.
The feeling of being cheated, taken advantage of for being unfamiliar to your surroundings and reliant on people who know better. Unpleasant, utterly frustrating. Yet being as meek as a lamb who can only stutter a few baas while the wolf bares its sharp fangs at you, you can only scorn yourself for being so weak and helpless, unable to fend for yourself even if you know you are being robbed right in your face.
Being more well-off than these people, giving a few cents extra wouldn't strip you into poverty. So rather than beating yourself hard for that few cents, why not just shrug it off and take it as generosity on your part?
The annoying thing is, if only matters of principles are that easy.
It's painful not so much because of the few negligible extra cents or the fact of being taken advantage of, but the act of dishonesty and unscrupulousness that I'm perpetuating by giving in to the rip off. With this, they become more sure of themselves to find victims in other foreigners. But the worst thing would be the unfairness to sellers or rickshaw drivers with integrity. By giving in to rip offs, honest sellers and drivers would not have the incentive to maintain their values. Seeing their counterparts earn manifolds while they earn little just for the sake of sticking to principles isn't too encouraging. Charging by the actual price to foreigners would connote dumbness and naivety. In a poverty stricken place, finding a good honest heart is akin to finding gems.
"Metre. Metre" is what my colleagues and I always chant the first thing we approach the rickshaw driver. Some would speed off when the destination isn't worth following the metre. Some would sway their heads sideways to mutter a price to these foreigners who they have the inkling are not fresh out of the plane. We walk off until we find one that agrees to go by the metre.
It hasn't always been so difficult. There was the old thin softspoken driver who safely delivered us to our doorstep with the rate on the metre card. There was the driver that remained patient throughout the crazy peak hour traffic and went by the metre despite many frustrated exchange of horns in the battle of honking. There was the young driver who surprised us by saying 'Metre' as we were scouring in the middle of the night for a reasonable set price rickshaw ride from the train station to our home - a first time for my friend who has always had to pay more for a late night drive.
Toughness. That's what I have to cultivate. Don't be afraid to walk off when the price isn't right. Don't be afraid to put on the face of the fierce-looking Hindu gods.
Come on girl, for the sake of humanity and betterment of the world, put on some fangs and start biting.
Some pictures.
Love the sight of cows.
Healthy, clean looking sacred (?) cows on the steps toward Parvati Hill temple, a Hindu temple built in the 1700s during the Peshwa dynasty.
Brightly clad female students adding colours to the old and drab temple grounds.
This student who thought we were from China (student:"are you from China?" mom out of laziness to explain: "yes") wanted a picture with my mom while I volunteered myself in.
It was exam period and there were students studying in corners of the temple. ..to seek higher help I guess. Else it's the cool, serene atmosphere.
1 comment:
You write very well. :)
I think the main problem is that we mostly grow up in a heavily moderated society that has a lot of rules and guidelines.
Equality and fairness is prevalent in this more than other things. It's not a good thing when you know you're not paying the local value - yet you still do.
This in itself is part of the bargain of being there.
Post a Comment